Objectives: Acute sinusitis is a common upper respiratory tract infection worldwide, which can be severely complicated if inappropriate treatment is applied. The aim of this study was to assess and compare efficacy of cefuroxime and amoxicillin/clavulanate in the treatment of acute sinusitis in an Iranian sample population.

Methods: A randomised clinical trial study, comparing the efficacy of two oral antibiotics, cefuroxime (Exiroxime®) and amoxicillin/clavulanate in the treatment of acute sinusitis, was conducted in 2005. A total of 99 patients were enrolled in the study. The clinical diagnosis of acute sinusitis was based on association of suborbital pain, purulent rhinorrea and purulent discharge on the middle nasal meatus. All patients were also radiographically examined and their diagnoses were confirmed. Patients were randomly assigned to either receive 10 days of treatment with cefuroxime 250 mg twice daily (n = 57) or receive amoxicillin/clavulanate 500/125 mg three times daily (n = 42). Patients' responses to treatment were assessed during and at the end of the treatment.

Results: A satisfactory clinical outcome (cure or improvement of symptoms) was found in 86% (49/57) and 71.4% (30/42) of the clinically evaluable patients treated with cefuroxime or amoxicillin/clavulanate, respectively (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that cefuroxime (twice daily) is more effective than amoxicillin/clavulanate (three times a day) in the treatment of patients with acute sinusitis. A larger study is needed to elaborate on the findings of this study.